Shropshire population growth is above national average
Shropshire's population has grown at a faster rate in the last decade than the national average, new figures have revealed.
The 2011 census shows the Shropshire Council area has a population of 306,129, which is an increase of 8.1 per cent from the 2001 census count of 283,173.
By comparison, the population of England and Wales rose from 49,138,831 in 2001 to 56,075,912, an increase of 7.8 per cent.
Analysis of the 2011 census has already highlighted the growing pressure on Shropshire's health and care services because of an ageing population.
And now council supremos are studying the findings of the once-a-decade study, which will be used by central government to determine how much money goes to each area for services.
Councillor Malcolm Price, cabinet member for strategic planning at Shropshire Council, said: "Councils are allocated funding by the Government according to the population of their area, so the census figures are really important.
"Population figures are of course an integral part of the future planning of the county, so we will be considering these results with great interest."
Different parts of Shropshire appear to be growing at different rates, with the most newcomers flocking to the Shrewsbury area, and the least heading for the Bridgnorth area.
The 2011 census figures for Shropshire show the former district with the largest population increase is Shrewsbury and Atcham, which has grown by 10,633 people to 102,382 in 2011. This is an increase of 11.6 per cent since the 2001 census count of 91,749.
The former district of Bridgnorth saw the lowest increase in population, rising by 4,294 people to 54,805 in 2011. This is an increase of 8.5 per cent since the 2001 census count of 50,511.
The area with the highest population and most households is on the southern edge of Shrewsbury in the Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton electoral ward.
In 2011 it had a population of 11,982, or 3.9 per cent of Shropshire residents, four per cent of all Shropshire households.
The electoral ward with the lowest population is Chirbury and Worthen, near Bishop's Castle, with 3,049 people, or one per cent of the total population.
By Tom Johannsen
